DRAUGHTS.

Otago Witness, Issue 4048, 13 October 1931, Page 61

DRAUGHTS.

CONDUCTED BY

JAS. BEECOT.

Mutloiw o» problem*, games, anti nnulrses la. Jlted for this column. Games should be written In eii columns as below, and all cerresnoiuiciio* Mdressed to the Druuglita Editor, Otuco P WIUi«U DE co, Dunedin.

PROBLEM 6565. By Robert Stevenson, Skippers. Black 1,5, 12, 24, 25.

White 7, 10, 20, 21, 30. White to move and win. PROBLEM 6566. By Robert Stevenson, Skippers. Black 13, 19, 20, King 26.

White 21, 28, 32, King 11. White to move and draw.

The problems given above were originally published in this column 42 years ago. Mr Stevenson vras a frequent contributor about that time. I understand he is now a resident of Dunedin, and if this should come under his notice it is hoped that he will come out from his obscurity and give the younger generation a sample of his oldtime skill. TO CORRESPONDENTS. A. Shejiherd, Morven. —Re Problem G 555, you will notice that Peter Petersen " got in on it. Your other analysis has not been sent on.” GAMES. NEW YORK CHAMPIONSHIP GAME. This is the game that cost young Jack Cox the New Tork Checker championship title. In this game Cox had a very easy win in hand, but allowed Ryan to draw’ by “ Tregaski’s position.” Had Cox won this game he would have won the tournament The game and notes by Willie Rvan are taken from the Vancouver Weekly Province. GAME 9106.—•" Denny.”

Playing time over six hours. This was the longest game in the tourney. (a) To this point the play is quite regular. In an effort to mix matters I took this line, hoping for the best. This 24 20 move has no real strength, although I once managed to lose with the Blacks when my opponent played 24 20. I placed inv confidence on the 24 20 move on this sole experience, believing it had winning chances for White. (b) My first serious error, although the move does not lose. However, it is so weak that almost any other move would have been better now. 30 26, 15 18 (or 15 19, 23 16, 12 19, 25 22 also draws), *3l 27, 8 11, *32 28 leads to a draw. (c) By this time I knew that I was in trouble. I could see that I would ultimately be confined to a weak bridge position, and I was spending most of my time searching for a sacrifice that would break the “ bridge ” and draw the game by a “ King chase.”

(d) Here Is where I missed my draw. When the timekeeper called time I was undecided as to whether 21 17 or 27 23 was the best move. I had been working on 21 17 most of my time limit, although 1 had a premonition that 27 23 would draw. I saw a sacrifice and drawing chances on 27 23, but it was so vague that I became afraid of it and risked my chances on the safer looking 21 17. In presenting this position 1 believe the play for the draw demonstrates once and for all time what an intricate game Checkers becomes in actual crossboard play. It is positions such as these that tax the most seasoned players to desperation, as it is a human impossibility to thoroughly see the conclusion of all lines in five minutes. Position : Black 1,3, 15, 16.15, 19. White 11, 13, 21, 27, 30, 32. White to move and draw. Continue *27 23, IS 27, 32 23, 19 26, 30 23, 16 20 (anything else an easy draw), 21 17, 24 20. 23 19. 15 IS, 13 9, 24 27, *ll 7, 3 10, 9 6, 27 31, 6 2, 31 26 2 7. Drawn, W. F. Ryan. Some draw! (e) White can not draw now, although this prolongs the agony. Cox’s ability is well in evidence from here on to his blunder at note (f). Any other move except the text would lead to quick defeat. (f) The fatal move and none of the spectators were aware of it. Both this move and 9 14 allows a draw. 13 17 will win, but the play is critical. (g) The last ray of hope for a Black win disappears. We now have a form o’

Tregaski’s draw. Cox played for 15 19, 22 7, *9 14, 19 24, 18 15. Black wins.

—Variation I.— J™ P revl °us Same Ryan varied here witn 11 it,. an j a very usetul Jine f j was brought out:

(a) A line seldom played, yet leading to a very powerful game for White (b) This move is said to lose by J. Alexander, the eminent English authority. In my opinion it is the safest and best move on the board for Blaek. (c) Here Alexander continues for a White Til T, 6 10> 7 14 ’ 25 22 - B n. 8. a J l !.-! 17, 6 10 ’ 29 25 > 11 16 - 25 22, ' > •£’’» and calls it a win. Theoretically the position looks even, and I doubt if a win can be shown (forced win) after 9 13 at note (b). Continue from where Alexander calls the position a win ; 7 11 and now it either 17 13 or 23 19 Black answers 5 9 and has an easy draw. I also believe that can draw more than one way after 26 10 at note (c). SOLUTIONS TO PROBLEMS. , o P^*i. blein 6561 (Jas. Beecot). —Blaek 1, 3. IJ, 10, 16. White 10, 22, 27, 28, 30. Black o move, White to win. When diagrammed the terms were given as Black to move, and draw; but these terms could not be sustamed.

Problem 6562 (J. D. Sherrow).—Black 3, 11™' hlte 1S ’ 223 > 27 > 28 - Black to move and win.

THE IRISH TEASER. A couple of weeks ago we published “ A leaser Irom Ireland.” Below St. Ringans replies to the analysts who attempted to solve it, and secure the prize offered through the Glasgow Weekly Herald/ bo J s - ye hae had yer whack at S"® V> lt; end ‘P‘ me sent tae me by Davie MCullough and Arthur J. O'Neill, and frae the replies that I hae gotten I see ye hae round out some o’ its beauty, but the majority ot solvers jumped in at the wrang end. Set up the poseetion an’ I’ll let ye see "2° — Wls played in Belfast. Black 1,6, 10, 15, 23. White 13, 17, 25, 28, 31. 32. Black to play. What result?

(®). five of the solvers struck out on this line, a’ the ithers going 1 5 as key, a ? d lh ? y found a great variety of traps, although perhaps their play could easily have been shortened after 25 21, 15 18, *3l 27, tlO ,15, etc. Some grand play was evolved; 31 26 at (») wins easily (i ) Here again 23 26. 31 22, 15 18 22 15, 10 19, 23 24 is quicker than 17 14’ (b) If 32 28, 23 27, 28 19, 10 14, and Black gets the easy draw. (c) 10 15 also seems a good line for a draw, but several failed in their attempts to prov'e White wins. This draw is from John Farrel, Edinburgh:

(d) A neat Jioint left untouched was 27, 6,_ 7 11, 6 10, 11 16, 19 23, 28 19, 10 14, 19 la, 23 2G. Drawn.

Im thinkin’ that is quite enough play tae Prove the draw, and the prize is awarded tae G. R. Thomson, Edinburgh. His analysis was a complete budget of trunk variations 1 and 2, plus notes from (a) to (q). Except tor a little shortenin’, I couldna' upset ony o his play. W. Halliwell, Stockport, sent the trunk and two notes and was second, •rohu !• arrel was third, and A. Clarkson and W. Lamb, Glasgow, equal. Through the generosity of Mr Braid. Dollar, we will have another test some day soon.—St. Ringans. DRAUGHTS MATCH. Recently a friendly game of Draughts was engaged in by the members of the unemployed and the Dunedin waterside workers at the Central Rest Room, Moray place, and after a most enjoyable evening the team representing the waterside workers proved victorious by eight games. Mr P. Watt, on behalf of the unemployed, welcomed the visitors. An excellent supper was provided at the conclusion of the games, this being rendered possible by a donation of small goods from Barton's. Later the captains of the teams, along with the judge (Mr Boreham),- made special reference to the good feelings brought about by meetings of this sort, and it was decided to elect a oommittee from the various clubs for the purpose of forming a league, whereby competitions would be run each year by the different organisations. Mr Boreham was appointed the convener 01 the committee. Thanks were expressed to Mr Boreham for imparting his great knowledge of the game to the various clubs that seek his services. The following are the individual scores :—

Black : J. Cox ; White : W. Ryan. 10 14 20 11 18 ■ 22 7 o 14 9 1 6 19 8 15 32 28*"e 20 24“ 7 2 16 20 6 10-1 27 20 22 26 14 9 3 8 6 10 22 17 4 8 30 23 22 IS 10 7 f-20 24 9 13 31 27-b 19 26 9 ; > 1 10 23 27 28 24 15 19 °7 21 24 27 1 24 28 13 22 23 16 16 20 •/ “7 10 15 27 32 ~S 12 19 24 19 27 31 7 13 ;> 14 20 16 15 24 7 11 8 12 10 15 26 22 8 12 28 19 31'26 3 7 17 II 15 16 11 26 30 13 9 15 IS g-2 17 10 15 19 15 26 00 11 9 14 11 25 22 30 25 9 *6 18 22 11 17 13 12 16 15 10 18 14 11 15 oo 26 2 6 22 17 25 21 11 y 12 16 15 19 29 25 15 18-c 11 14 22 17 15 IS Drawn 11 16 17 10 21 17 *6 2 22 26 24 20-a 6 15 11 7 17 13 18 15 24 21 17-d 17 22 2 6 26 31

11 16 13 22 11 18 11 18 11 18 6 10 28 24-a 16 20 25 5 9-C 14 26 22 3 7 26 22 2 7 26 20 22 24 22 10 18 15 19 15 24 19 22 15 22 15 27 20 19 10 9 13-b 7 11 7 11 7 11 18 27 14 17 22 17 29 25 30 26 31 26 32 23 21 11 —then 12 16. Drawn.

15 19 18 15 2G 30 22 6 24 19 14 13 30 25 19 23 25 21 9 9 1 9 14 19 23 15 11 30 25 3 9 6 18 23 27 IS 23 26 22 is 28 24 10 14 14 18 16 19 11 7 7 - 7 10 6 9 W. wins

11 16 19 16 27 31 19 15 18 14 5 1 27 24 24 27 23 19 oy 23 6 1 6 ° 16 20 16 11 15 24 14 10 14 9 B. wins 24 19 10 15 28 19 23 IS 1 20 24 18 14 31 27 10 6 9 6

20 24-a’ *17 10 23 27 13 9 18 15(1 3 7 28 19 6 15 18 14 27 23 10 7 *1 5 15 24 32 28 27 32 9 6 15 11 7 3 25 22-b 15 19 14 10 23 18 7 3 Drawn 10 ■22 18 32. .27 6 2 11 15

17 14 26 30 14 10 25 21 31 27 *1 5 23 26 28 10 30 25 17 14 15 19 Drawn 32 28 6 15 ' 22 17 21 17 13 9

Wins. Draws. Wins. Unemployed. Watersiders. 0 D. Copland . 0 T. Miller 4 3 J. Craig 0 W. Lowe 1 2 H. Renshaw . 2 J. Ramage 0 2 A. M'Intyre . 1 A. Anderson . . 1 1 J. Paul . . . 0 A. Wilcox R 3 A. Gooseman . 0 W. Ballantyne 1 1 J. Thompson . 0 D. Campbell . . ■ 1 0 J. Trainor 0 R. Winton 4 o J. Witchall . 1 R. Murray 1 3 L. Barbeau . 0 D. Goner 1 2 G. Anderson . 0 S. Boardman . . Q 4 C. E. Frost . 0 J. Donaldson . . 0 3 IL Still . . . 0 A. Brighton . . 1 3 H. Miller 0 G. Lees . . 1 1 H. Drew 0 W. Morris 3 4 J. Coory 0 J. Munro 0 —■ — —. - 3' 4 26